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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Hudson pilot urges safety funding | Hudson pilot urges safety funding |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The pilot of a plane that ditched into the Hudson River in New York has called on US airlines to invest more in recruiting and training pilots. | The pilot of a plane that ditched into the Hudson River in New York has called on US airlines to invest more in recruiting and training pilots. |
| Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger told Congress his pay had been cut by 40% in recent years, and the industry might not attract the "best and brightest". | Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger told Congress his pay had been cut by 40% in recent years, and the industry might not attract the "best and brightest". |
| "The single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot," he said. | "The single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot," he said. |
| He was hailed as a hero after January's landing, which all on board survived. | He was hailed as a hero after January's landing, which all on board survived. |
| At the hearing, an air traffic controller recalled the captain telling him he would land in the river, and thinking this was a "death sentence". | At the hearing, an air traffic controller recalled the captain telling him he would land in the river, and thinking this was a "death sentence". |
| Controller Patrick Harten said it felt like hours before he heard of the plane's "heroic landing". | Controller Patrick Harten said it felt like hours before he heard of the plane's "heroic landing". |
| 'Economic tsunami' | 'Economic tsunami' |
| Earlier, Capt Sullenberger told the House aviation subcommittee that he was "deeply troubled" about the future of the airline industry. | Earlier, Capt Sullenberger told the House aviation subcommittee that he was "deeply troubled" about the future of the airline industry. |
| He said pay cuts had placed "pilots and their families in an untenable financial situation", and that this was deterring potential recruits. | He said pay cuts had placed "pilots and their families in an untenable financial situation", and that this was deterring potential recruits. |
| Companies should refocus on the recruitment and retention of well-trained pilots, and this should be "at least equal to their financial bottom lines", he said. | |
| Capt Sullenberger said the airline industry had been facing severe economic challenges for the last eight years. | Capt Sullenberger said the airline industry had been facing severe economic challenges for the last eight years. |
| "We've been hit by an economic tsunami: September 11th, bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving door management teams," he said. | "We've been hit by an economic tsunami: September 11th, bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving door management teams," he said. |
| He added that his decision to stay in the airline industry had come at "a great financial cost to me and my family", with his pay cut and pension downgraded.Advertisement | He added that his decision to stay in the airline industry had come at "a great financial cost to me and my family", with his pay cut and pension downgraded.Advertisement |
| Security camera footage of the Hudson River plane | Security camera footage of the Hudson River plane |
| The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says that amid all the adulation, it was a sobering moment. | The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says that amid all the adulation, it was a sobering moment. |
| The committee was sitting to examine what lessons could be learned from the 15 January accident. | The committee was sitting to examine what lessons could be learned from the 15 January accident. |
| Capt Sullenberger urged "collective solutions" involving management a labour to ensure that pilots are sufficiently valued and to avoid "negative consequences to the flying public and to our country". | Capt Sullenberger urged "collective solutions" involving management a labour to ensure that pilots are sufficiently valued and to avoid "negative consequences to the flying public and to our country". |
| "The current experience and skills of our country's professional airline pilots come from investments made years ago," he said. | "The current experience and skills of our country's professional airline pilots come from investments made years ago," he said. |
| "We must not let the economic and financial pressures detract from a focus on constantly improving our safety measures and engaging in ongoing and comprehensive training." | "We must not let the economic and financial pressures detract from a focus on constantly improving our safety measures and engaging in ongoing and comprehensive training." |
| Investigators have confirmed that Canada geese collided with both of the engines of Flight 1549 shortly before it ditched, causing them to lose power. | Investigators have confirmed that Canada geese collided with both of the engines of Flight 1549 shortly before it ditched, causing them to lose power. |
| "At the point of impact we heard thumps of the birds striking the aircraft," Capt Sullenberger told the Congress committee on Tuesday. | "At the point of impact we heard thumps of the birds striking the aircraft," Capt Sullenberger told the Congress committee on Tuesday. |
| "I immediately began to feel vibrations - abnormal, rough vibrations coming from both engines," he said. | "I immediately began to feel vibrations - abnormal, rough vibrations coming from both engines," he said. |
| "And I quickly began to smell in the cabin circulated air, what I've experienced before, and that's a burned bird smell going through the engines." | "And I quickly began to smell in the cabin circulated air, what I've experienced before, and that's a burned bird smell going through the engines." |